by Ovidia Yu
‘I think he’s trying to frame me,’ Fabian said. ‘Once he saw I wasn’t going to give up and go away. Nobody is going to believe anything I say about my mum’s will if they’re all busy accusing me of killing Julietta. I don’t know any lawyers here. Even if I did I don’t have any money to pay them. I can’t even afford to go back to New York. Mummy always paid for my tickets when I came back. And even if I get back to New York, what am I going to live on? That Man is controlling Mum’s account, and he’s stopped my allowance!’
‘I thought you were working with computers,’ Aunty Lee tried to remember who had told her this but could not. ‘That you had started your own company, and you’re working with companies like Apple and IBM.’
‘I am. But these things take time,’ Fabian said shortly. Now he reminded Aunty Lee of Mark and all his failed ventures. What was it with this generation?
Aunty Lee thought Fabian was the one who didn’t understand what was going on. He had been taken care of all his life. Now he probably expected his Aunt Beth to come to her senses and bail him out. That was likely his parents’ fault, Aunty Lee thought with all the superiority of a childless woman; Patty and Ken had been the sort of parents who shielded their precious boy from all responsibility. Now they were gone and he had never learned to be responsible for himself.
‘And the police were asking all kinds of crazy questions. Like why would I know how to use a nail gun, right?’
‘They asked you about a nail gun?’
‘I know. Crazy, right? They asked if I had done any DIY work, had I used a nail gun recently. I got so upset I just couldn’t take anymore. I started crying, and they gave up and said I could go.’
Aunty Lee desperately wanted to know more about the nail gun. But she had to deal with Fabian, and she wanted to talk to Helen. Fabian’s misery and hopeless situation had not affected his appetite, Aunty Lee was glad to see. This made her think that Fabian was not finding things were as hopeless as he said. Surely men who believe themselves about to be arrested for murder don’t say: ‘Why not, I don’t mind,’ to a second helping of deep fried prawn nuggets? Even if they didn’t notice the shy girl offering them.
Aunty Lee did feel sorry for Fabian. Just because you could not solve all the big problems in the universe was no reason not to tackle the small ones that cropped up underfoot. You could listen to an unhappy person talk and feed one hungry murder suspect.
‘So, Rosie, the more I think about what you said, the more I think you may be right!’ Helen could not keep it in any longer. ‘Patty was always so loyal. Or rather, she would never admit that she made a mistake. If Patty thought that her precious Jonny Ho told someone that our house was going to be empty while Peng and I were away, she would never tell me but she would never let him near any of her friends again. And that’s exactly what happened, right?’
Aunty Lee glared at Helen. ‘I told you not to say anything in front of people.’
‘Fabian isn’t people, what! He’s not going to tell them!’
‘You think my mum was afraid That Man’s friends were robbing her friends?’
Fabian wasn’t as slow as he appeared, Aunty Lee thought.
‘That would totally explain why Patty stopped all her friends altogether! I knew it wasn’t just the cancer!’ Helen crowed.
‘It was just an idea,’ Aunty Lee said, signalling for a fresh basket of crunchy keropok for Fabian. ‘We have no way to prove it. And even after Patty died the house break-ins are still happening.’
‘But not as many! And since then, nobody else that we know. Before that they broke into my house, into Siew and Jean’s place, into Ying’s mother’s house … why didn’t I see it earlier?’
Fabian helped himself to a savoury prawn cracker … and then another. ‘But it’s no use talking to the police. They don’t want to listen to anything that might mean more work for them. Like I told them I probably knew why Julietta was killed.’
‘Why?’
‘Because she knew that my mother was murdered by Jonny Ho.’
‘Be careful of Fabian Loo,’ said Inspector Salim when Aunty Lee finally managed to get him on the phone. ‘He was seen with Julietta the day she disappeared. He was on bad terms with his mother for years, so he shouldn’t be surprised that she wrote him out of her will. And he has been harassing and threatening his aunt and stepfather.’
‘I suppose you got that from Jonny Ho?’
‘From several sources.’ Salim lowered his voice. ‘Neighbours saw Fabian shouting at Julietta outside the house. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I want you to be careful.’
Aunty Lee dismissed the report of neighbours. Hadn’t she herself been reported as a burglar by neighbours? ‘Did you see the note I left you? About the break-ins?’
‘I’ll get round to that when this is sorted out.’ New murders took priority over old burglaries. ‘Nina’s okay?’
‘She’s okay.’ Aunty Lee said firmly. Salim had more than enough to worry about. He didn’t have to know that Aunty Lee intended to get Nina back to Binjai Park as soon as possible.
‘And Fabian told you Julietta was murdered because she had proof that his mother was murdered?’
‘Patricia Kwuan-Loo was not murdered. She had colon cancer with secondaries in the pancreas. We have gone through the hospital records and talked to her doctors, believe me.’
‘I suppose they warned you to watch out for me,’ Fabian said miserably when Aunty Lee got off the phone. ‘I know they suspected me. Now you suspect me too.’
‘I don’t let other people tell me who to suspect. I only want to make sure that you are all right. From what I remember of Patty, she would not have left you with nothing. She would not have left Julietta with nothing. She probably expected Jonny to set up some kind of trust for you. You should talk to him.’
‘I shouldn’t have to crawl to that bugger to get what’s mine.’
‘At least talk things over with your Aunt Beth, because family shouldn’t fight. Maybe she will try to get Jonny to do the right thing. Shouting at him and threatening him won’t do any good. Actually,’ Aunty Lee looked at Helen, who was plainly dying to confront Jonny Ho herself, ‘I have an idea.’
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Salim Suspended
Aunty Lee did not think much of it when there was no word from Inspector Salim. In fact, she barely noticed that no one from the Bukit Tinggi Neighbourhood Police Post stopped by Aunty Lee’s Delights for lunch or snacks.
Despite Aunty Lee’s confidence in her plan, she wanted to mention it to Salim before putting it into action. More than anything, she needed to discuss it with somebody, because she only knew exactly what she had to do when she was telling somebody. Normally she would talk to Nina, but, in Nina’s absence, Aunty Lee turned to the person she knew must be missing Nina as much as herself.
Also, Aunty Lee felt a little guilty towards Salim. Without her interference, he might have worked things out between him and Nina in time.
But not in my lifetime, Aunty Lee thought crossly, given how over slow and over patient the man was. This guilt resulted in the pandan chiffon cake and a waxed brown paper packet of ondeh ondeh that she brought with her to the neighbourhood police post.
‘For all of you,’ Aunty Lee announced, putting the gifts on Mark Sheridan’s desk. ‘The cake can be put in the fridge but the ondeh ondeh better eat now.’ Aunty Lee opened and flourished the packet of glutinous rice balls. They were plump with gula melaka (liquid palm sugar) and fragrantly coated with freshly shredded coconut. ‘No artificial colouring. Even the pandan is from my own plants, don’t worry.’ Pandan or screw pine leaves were another staple that Aunty Lee could never have enough of. Thanks to Nina there were several healthy plants in the garden of the Binjai Park bungalow as well as two pots outside the back door of the café. Aunty Lee was also in the habit of pinching and sniff testing every pandan plant she encountered, which had led to minor neighbourly altercations in the past. ‘I know Inspector Salim likes my onde
h ondeh. Call him and tell him to come out and eat.’
‘Inspector Salim is not here,’ a stiff-lipped Staff Sergeant Panchal told her.
‘When will he be back?’
‘Sorry, I cannot say, Madam.’
Aunty Lee had had her differences with the young woman officer before. Being female, Indian and a police sergeant, Panchal had got where she was by hard work, and she had tried to hold others to the same strictest standards she imposed on herself. Aunty Lee believed in adapting standards to people and situations. Still, Panchal had unwound sufficiently to accept that Aunty Lee meant no harm.
‘Aiyoh. I walked all the way here to bring just for him because I know he likes,’ Aunty Lee said pleadingly. The walk had taken her less than fifteen minutes, and that included stopping to chat with a neighbour walking a dog, another neighbour polishing her car, and a third working on the vertical garden he was constructing on the outer perimeter of his home. ‘Nah, I better leave them here for you all. Better eat first, don’t waste.’
The young policewoman unbent sufficiently to ask: ‘Should I call somebody to come and bring you back?’
‘No lah, what for? My place so nearby.’ Aunty Lee didn’t elaborate that with Nina gone there was no one she could call except Cherril, and she didn’t want Cherril to know she was meddling. Again.
‘I’ll come and help you flag down a taxi,’ Panchal said. ‘Sheridan, I’m taking a break. Take over the phones for me.’
There was something in Panchal’s manner that brooked no argument. Aunty Lee allowed herself to be ushered out of the station and onto the sidewalk. Once outside Panchal steered her towards a small children’s play area some twenty metres away. The bench between the sandpit and curvy slide was empty, and they settled on it.
‘Inspector Salim is on suspension from active duty. Please don’t tell anybody I told you.’
When Panchal was first assigned to the Bukit Tinggi Neighbourhood Police Post, Aunty Lee had thought rapid advancement was the only thing on her mind. Panchal had reported her colleagues for violations of the rules, including eating while on duty and carrying personal mobile phones on station premises. At one time she had even reported Salim, her superior officer, for coming into work late without calling in, even though he had been on duty till 3 a.m. and everyone at the station and HQ knew about the case he had just wrapped up. Panchal had been upset … after all, what were rules for if they could be set aside at any time? Now she was looking upset for a different reason.
‘What happened?’
‘There were some complaints about him. Some civilians reported that he mistreated them while they were in the station.’
Aunty Lee remembered overhearing Jonny telling Beth to complain. She had thought it was macho pride and had not thought Beth would take him seriously. She had not given the man enough credit; he had made Beth follow through. And the police force had been taken in? Any idiot should have been able to see through such a ridiculous complaint!
‘Rubbish! I know who made the complaints. He made them up. Anybody who knows Salim should know that’s not true!’ Aunty Lee glared at SS Panchal.
Panchal looked worried, but not for herself. There was hope for the girl yet, Aunty Lee thought. She resolved to make some of her special cakes for SS Panchal, whose pleasantly padded figure suggested a definite fondness for sweet things, but not right now. Right now she had more important things to take care of.
‘Don’t worry. I won’t say that you are the one who told me.’
Aunty Lee speed walked home in record time. She had a phone call to make, in private. Cherril saw her boss padding swiftly and grimly past the café and wasn’t surprised when her wave went unanswered. Aunty Lee might be a great one for noticing details other people missed, but like a dog on the scent of a rat or a loan shark after a debtor, nothing distracted her from her purpose once she found it.
Right then Cherril would have been only too happy to be distracted. She had been pleased at the good response to her catered home party meals. As she had guessed, people who put effort into doing up their homes appreciated the opportunity to show them off to friends, while enjoying the party with them rather than worrying about the catering. The problem was so many of them seemed to enjoy worrying about the menu. Some of her clients phoned daily, wanting to discuss new ideas they had got. Aunty Lee would have told them they would love whatever she cooked and get away with it, even if she didn’t decide what to prepare until she visited the market on the morning of the party. But even though Cherril prepared detailed menus based on her clients’ food allergies, food preferences, and the best seasonal produce her clients still called her for daily discussions. One hostess had even passed the number to her invited guests and told Cherril to go through her favourite foods quiz with them so that the meal would suit everyone. The phone rang again now, even as Cherril wondered whether something had upset Aunty Lee – if she should go after her.
‘Phone for you, Madam Cherry,’ one of the part-timers interrupted her thoughts of escape. Cherril was starting to hate telephones.
Pacing up and down the porch behind in her bungalow because she was generating too much energy to sit still, Aunty Lee was not enjoying her phone call either. ‘What do you mean you cannot do anything? I’m telling you that this guy boasted he’s going to make a false report about your Inspector! A false report! And you say you got to believe him? You say you cannot do anything except believe this liar? If you cannot do anything then who can? Who should I be talking to?’
No one complains with as much skill and energy as a Peranakan Aunty, and Aunty Lee was the essence of Peranakan Aunties personified.
‘I did not say we believe the complaint. I said we have to investigate the complaint. We investigate all complaints made against our officers,’ Commissioner Raja said. He did not tell his old friend he had been expecting her call. ‘We have to follow the law or change the law. That is what having the law is all about. Not just following it when it suits you.’
‘Just like that? Without even asking what happened? That means any time I get angry with my policeman I can phone and say he harassed me and you will sack him? How can I like that!’
‘There is no “like that”. There are procedures. For ranks below Inspector they are charged immediately, and what happens to them depends on whether they plead guilty or claim a hearing. For those of Inspector rank and above, like Salim, there is internal investigation first. Salim is waiting for his internal investigation to be scheduled, and he opted to take unpaid leave until the investigation is over.’
‘I still think it is stupid and unfair.’
Aunty Lee called Mark next. She did not talk to Selina on the phone if she could help it, because Selina tended to shout over the phone and Aunty Lee (who shouted herself) found it painful.
‘I need to get Nina back. Tell Silly-Nah to tell her business partner that. Since Beth’s maid is dead she can make the agency send her another maid.’
‘It’s not that simple.’ Mark sounded tired. ‘Now there’s an investigation going on into the agency too. I don’t know what’s happening. Apparently there was something wrong with Julietta’s papers, and there aren’t any more maids. Jonny was in the process of buying out the company. Selina says to tell you to just let Nina stay with Beth for now, or she will be in trouble with the police for working two places. She’ll come back when the investigation dies down. It’s only to stop you and Nina from getting into trouble. You should know it’s illegal for Nina to work in your shop.’
Aunty Lee would have slammed down the phone if she could. Just pressing a tiny ‘Off’ button didn’t give the same satisfaction. For a moment she considered throwing her mobile phone against the wall, just to release some of the pressure inside her. But that would probably spoil the phone. That made her think of Nina, who didn’t have her phone with her, and Julietta, who had had a phone Beth didn’t know about. Had Julietta’s phone been found with her body? Aunty Lee forced herself to calm down and think what was the b
est thing to do. She had to get Nina away from the Jalan Kakatua house as soon as possible. Something about that place was starting to make Aunty Lee very uncomfortable. She sensed the presence of unpleasantness like a kitchen with cockroaches in the pantry and rats in the drains. She would get Nina safely away from there. And she would get Nina to tell the police that Salim had not been harassing her, even if it meant Nina losing her Singapore work permit.
It took a bit more time but Aunty Lee finally managed to track down Salim’s home number.
‘Salim! Why aren’t you answering your mobile phone? I was worried about you! What happened to you? Are you sick? Do you need some healing soup?’
‘Hello, Aunty Lee.’ Salim didn’t want to talk to anyone, but the old lady’s delight at finally getting to speak to him was touching, and he couldn’t help smiling. ‘How are you?’
‘Aiyoh, I don’t know what is happening around here anymore. You want me to write letters to the newspapers and say that we don’t feel safe because the stupid police force suspends good policemen anyhow?’
‘Please don’t. This is my first holiday in a long time.’
‘If you are so free then come and eat lunch at my shop? Bring your mother to come and eat! I want to see what she thinks of my sayur lodeh!’
It would be a memorable encounter, Salim thought. His mother was as proud of her sayur lodeh – vegetables in a coconut based curry – as Aunty Lee was of hers. At a previous meeting the two had almost got into a fight over whether sweetcorn kernels, baby corn or cross sections of corn cob were preferable or even permissible. Yet both old ladies recalled the encounter fondly.
‘Sometime, maybe, but not now.’ He knew Aunty Lee meant well, but he didn’t want to meet up with anyone in the Bukit Tinggi jurisdiction just yet. Whatever anyone tried to say, being suspended was a disgrace. ‘How is Nina?’
‘I don’t know.’
Silence. Then: ‘I understand. Nina doesn’t want you to talk about her to me.’
‘You don’t understand anything! I can’t talk to Nina. That’s why I need you to do a favour for me. Right now you are not working so you got nothing to do, right?’